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> We were taught that not removing your shoes/sandals when you visit someone's place is a sign of disrespect. This can be said about central/east europe as wel

> We were taught that not removing your shoes/sandals when you visit someone's place is a sign of disrespect. This can be said about central/east europe as well, and our western european friends seem to behave like that too. And I don't mean just removing dirty heavy winter boots, I mean any boots/shoes/sandals/etc used outside.

twic 8y ago
I am English, and was brought up this way, but many of my English friends evidently were not, because they keep their shoes on when coming in unless i ask them to take them off.
- twic 8y ago
  But you know what, we don't take our shoes off in the office, do we? Why is that different? I had an Indian colleague years ago, and she did take her shoes off at work. We'd sit down at a computer to pair on something, and she'd slip her shoes off as she sat down. I must have found that unusual, because i remember it clearly. I have started taking my shoes off at work, but only a year or two ago. I think it's because i got a pair of heavy boots, and my feet can get too warm wearing them. I will walk to the printer in socks, but i have a pair of smart office slippers for going to the kitchen or bathroom.
  - mijamo 8y ago
    In Sweden it is not uncommon to remove shoes at work, especially when it's a wooden floor. I know we do it in my company. On the other hand in France it is very uncommon, but it is pretty usual to switch shoes when entering the office. Especially for those who have fancy shoes in Paris and don't want to get them ruined in the metro. So you take sneakers from home to work and switch to nice shining leather shoes at work.
  - freshm087 8y ago
    But you know what, we don't take our shoes off in the office, do we? Why is that different? My mother would say: I clean this house, someone else does it in your office!
  - JadeNB 8y ago
    > But you know what, we don't take our shoes off in the office, do we? Why is that different? In the US, because it makes people uncomfortable, and I have the right to do what makes me comfortable in my house, but not necessarily to do in the office what makes my co-workers uncomfortable. I do often take off my shoes when I'm in my office.

twic 8y ago

I am English, and was brought up this way, but many of my English friends evidently were not, because they keep their shoes on when coming in unless i ask them to take them off.

twic 8y ago
But you know what, we don't take our shoes off in the office, do we? Why is that different? I had an Indian colleague years ago, and she did take her shoes off at work. We'd sit down at a computer to pair on something, and she'd slip her shoes off as she sat down. I must have found that unusual, because i remember it clearly. I have started taking my shoes off at work, but only a year or two ago. I think it's because i got a pair of heavy boots, and my feet can get too warm wearing them. I will walk to the printer in socks, but i have a pair of smart office slippers for going to the kitchen or bathroom.
- mijamo 8y ago
  In Sweden it is not uncommon to remove shoes at work, especially when it's a wooden floor. I know we do it in my company. On the other hand in France it is very uncommon, but it is pretty usual to switch shoes when entering the office. Especially for those who have fancy shoes in Paris and don't want to get them ruined in the metro. So you take sneakers from home to work and switch to nice shining leather shoes at work.
- freshm087 8y ago
  But you know what, we don't take our shoes off in the office, do we? Why is that different? My mother would say: I clean this house, someone else does it in your office!
- JadeNB 8y ago
  > But you know what, we don't take our shoes off in the office, do we? Why is that different? In the US, because it makes people uncomfortable, and I have the right to do what makes me comfortable in my house, but not necessarily to do in the office what makes my co-workers uncomfortable. I do often take off my shoes when I'm in my office.